Scientists have long sought answers as to why and how ticks are able to transmit Lyme disease.

And now, a team of researchers revealed they have unlocked the DNA of the disease-carrying pest.

Sequencing the genome has shed light on how these ticks acquire and transmit pathogens, scientists said.

Their finding could pave the way for new ways eradicate the disease by identifying tick-specific genetic targets.

Lead author of the study, Dr Catherine Hill, of Purdue University, said: ‘The genome provides a foundation for a whole new era in tick research.

‘Now that we’ve cracked the tick’s code, we can begin to design strategies to control ticks, to understand how they transmit disease and to interfere with that process.’

Scientists have sequenced the genome of the deer tick (pictured) - which transmits Lyme disease. By unlocking the DNA of these bugs, scientists hope to interfere with the ticks' ability to pass the disease

By unlocking the genome sequence, scientists have pinpointed proteins in the tick associated with the transmission of viruses – as well as the bacterium that causes Lyme disease.

The genome also gave scientists a closer look at the ticks’ multitasking saliva – which contain microbials, pain inhibitors, immune suppressors and more.

Those saliva attributes are designed to help the tick feed on its host undetected for days – or even weeks.

The genome demonstrated that tick saliva contains thousands of compounds – as compared to only hundreds in mosquito saliva.

Dr Hill said it is ‘a diversity that presumably allows ticks to exploit a wide range of hosts and stay attached for a long time'.

But, the large size complexity of the genome was a challenge for the team of researchers.

The deer tick has one of the largest arthropod genomes ever sequenced – nearly 1,000 times larger than the fruit fly.

Co-author Dr Robert Waterhouse, of the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and the University of Geneva, said: ‘Tick gene architectures are more similar to those of mammals than to insects.’

The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.

WHAT IS LYME DISEASE?

One of the early symptoms of Lyme disease includes an Erythema migrans (EM) rash (pictured) - which can expand to up to 12 inches wide and often looks like a 'bull's-eye'

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks.

The most common symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash called erythema migrans.

The disease can typically be treated by several weeks of oral anitibiotics.

But if left untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart and nervous symptoms.

Lyme disease is diagnosed through the symptoms, physical findings - such as rash - and the lieklihood of exposure to infected ticks.

To prevent Lyme disease, it is recommended that people use insect repellent, remove ticks promptly, apply pesticides and reduce tick habitat.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE INFECTED?

During the first three to 30 days of infection, these symptoms may occur:

Fever

Chills

Headache

Fatigue

Muscle and joint aches

Swollen lymph nodes

Erythema migrans (EM) rash

The rash occurs in approximately 80 per cent of infected people.

It can expand to up to 12 inches (30 cm), eventually clearing and giving off the appearance of a target or a 'bull's-eye'.

Later symptoms of Lyme disease include:

Severe headaches and neck stiffness

Additional EM rashes

Arthritis with joint pain and swelling

Facial or Bell's Palsy

Heart palpitations

Problems with short-term memory

Nerve pain

Some of the later symptoms of Lyme disease include Facial palsy (pictured left), which is the loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face. Another symptom is a swollen knee (pictured right)